It’s almost Easter Aside from a few new paint jobs happening around town I noticed that we have a lot of visitors on the island – Easter is always a busy weekend here. For those of you in Belize and Mexico that have not booked your Ambergris Caye Easter weekend accommodations, check in with San Pedro Belize Express Water Taxi and they can set you up with a vacation package including boat ride from Chetumal Mexico to Belize – Belize to Chetumal or mainland to Ambergris Caye.

San Pedro Belize Express has partnered with some great resorts on Ambergris Caye and in Mexico to offer affordable Easter vacation packages.  Banana Beach Resort (San Pedro, Belize), Belize Yacht Club and Island Resorts (San Pedro, Belize), Conch Shell Inn (San Pedro, Belize), Portofino Resort (North Ambergris Caye, Belize), Las Terrazas Resort (North Ambergris Caye, Belize), Akal Ki Holistic Center (Laguna Bacalar, Mexico), and Villas Bakalar (Laguna Bacalar, Mexico) to name a few.

This morning I received press releases from Colette on Be Kind Belize and Saga.  It is great to read that Be Kind Belize is getting some international recognition with the US Ambassador attending their recent graduation ceremony.

Freeway Pays the Toll

As we watch the changes in San Pedro we all get to know that with progress comes the good and the bad. Unfortunately it is often our furry friends who end up paying the toll. Freeway is a good example of this.

Recently taxis have been allowed to cross the bridge to the part of the island north of the cut. Dogs who live in town grow up around taxis and learn how to stay safe and out of the way as they pass. But for dogs north of the cut, taxis are a new and unknown danger.

Freeway grew up footloose and fancy free at a resort on the north side of the island because his owner lived and worked there. He had not seen many taxis in his lifetime and because he was neglected by his irresponsible owners, he was just allowed to wander around on his own. This had been safe enough until the taxis were allowed to cross the bridge.

Poor Freeway didn’t know anything about how to stay out of the way and before long he was run over. Sadly, his owners didn’t care enough for him to take him to SAGA and have his injury treated. So, his foot got worse and worse, leaving him in pain and suffering – only able to hobble around on three legs. Luckily for Freeway, some kind tourists took pity on him and brought him to SAGA.

It was too late for Freeway and he ended up paying a very high toll. Because his injury had been left so long without medical attention, part of his foot had to be

amputated. The worst part about this is that if his owners had been responsible and cared for him the way they should have, he probably would have recovered fully.

But there is good news. Freeway is getting better and with the love and attention of the SAGA staff and volunteers, he will soon be looking for a new home with people who truly love and care for him.

If your dog is injured or if you see an injured animal that has not been cared for, make sure to get help. You might just save them from paying a very heavy price.

For information on how you can help sick, injured or neglected animals or if you’re interested in adopting Freeway or any of his friends, please contact SAGA on 226 3266.

US Ambassador Attends Be Kind Belize Graduation

Be Kind Belize, the humane education programme started in San Pedro in 2007, has received international recognition.

On the 13th of April, 17 boys from the St. Michael’s School in Los Flores, a village on the outskirts of Belmopan, proudly graduated from the Be Kind Belize programme.

In attendance, as guest of honour, was US Ambassador Vinai K. Thummalapally along with his wife, Mrs.Barbara Thummalapally. Also present was Barry Cuthbertson, Programme Specialist from the US Embassy.

Shari Sanchez and Michelle Gongora are Be Kind Belize Humane Educators for the Belmopan Humane Society. They have been trained to teach the 8 unit programme,

through which children learn about kindness to themselves, other people, their community, other living creatures and the environment.

With the generous support of the US Embassy, Belmopan Humane Society has been able to introduce this programme to children in Cayo, cooperating closely with schools.

The programme has proven to be such a success that it is over subscribed and has received excellent feedback from participating schools.

Nikki Buxton from Belmopan Humane Society said ‘We have been pleasantly surprised by the way that Be Kind Belize has been received and welcomed by schools in and around Belmopan. This is the first time a programme like this has been introduced and we are so proud of the teachers and children who are all doing such a great job. There is no doubt that teaching children about empathy and helping them to understand why kindness is a good thing benefits them, their schools, their families and the community. We are extremely grateful for the support from Ambassador Thummalapally and Mr.Cuthbertson from the US Embassy and very much hope that other organisations will take humane education seriously and start similar programmes nationwide.’

Be Kind Belize provides training and Educators’ Resource packs, free of charge to any school, humane society, community or individual who wishes to introduce the programme locally.

For more information about Be Kind Belize contact BeKIndBelize@gmail.com or call  501 226 4366.